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Elyn Saks: A tale of mental illness -- from the inside

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Published on Jul 2, 2012

http://www.ted.com "Is it okay if I totally trash your office?" It's a question Elyn Saks once asked her doctor, and it wasn't a joke. A legal scholar, in 2007 Saks came forward with her own story of schizophrenia, controlled by drugs and therapy but ever-present. In this powerful talk, she asks us to see people with mental illness clearly, honestly and compassionately.

TEDTalks is a daily video podcast of the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world's leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes. Featured speakers have included Al Gore on climate change, Philippe Starck on design, Jill Bolte Taylor on observing her own stroke, Nicholas Negroponte on One Laptop per Child, Jane Goodall on chimpanzees, Bill Gates on malaria and mosquitoes, Pattie Maes on the "Sixth Sense" wearable tech, and "Lost" producer JJ Abrams on the allure of mystery. TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design, and TEDTalks cover these topics as well as science, business, development and the arts. Closed captions and translated subtitles in a variety of languages are now available on TED.com, at http://www.ted.com/translate

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Top Comments

  • Wolfgirl Extraordinaire

    PLENTY of people have been able to deal with their schizophrenia without medication. It depends on environment, and severity, and the individual person. If you're suggesting that people SHOULD, all the time, that's not fair and it's dangerous. People deal with mental illness different ways and no one can tell them whether or not they should be using some form of assistance to do so. It's left up to them and their doctors, not people on the internet.

    · 38

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    in reply to NinetiesYouth (Show the comment)
  • MsBrightside742

    It takes some serious courage to go on about a painful journey like her's. The way she spoke was brilliant in itself. Great woman!

    · 10

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  • HIR5032

    To deal with schizophrenia is never easy. As she said, ideas and words are mixing inside your mind, too chaotic. Indeed it is a horrible illness that if you're not too strong to fight and deal with it, you'll be a total wreck. Such a brave woman. Schizophrenics need someone in their lives who would support them and be compassionate enough to understand what they're going through.

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  • boxcarro

    So Children Are not Human enough to Resent being treated like Animals? A Dog on a Leash? No, Pte Schmidt, Your Psychologics/Socialists were using Bertram Russell Condixtioning A Skinner box is a laboratory tool that is used to study animal behavior.

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    in reply to Peter Schmidt (Show the comment)
  • linkdude64

    [citation needed]

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    in reply to boxcarro (Show the comment)
  • boxcarro

    No YOU ARE WRONG! You are a SHILL for the PHARMO-DEATH-INDUSTRY! All Anti-Psychosis Meds Cause Tardive Dyskinsea, and IT IS WORSE than Death! SSRI anti desressants CAUSE THE SCHOOL KILLINGS! ergo: Psych Drugs Kill.

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    in reply to Wolfgirl Extraordinaire (Show the comment)
  • lizXoX2008

    God bless her.

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  • 6Astro06

    As a mother who has a son with. Schizophrenia I can tell you it is a horrible debilitating illness. One of torment and sad stigma. this is a very brave woman who has to deal with difficulty most of us will never know. When you live with someone suffering through this illness then you know the true heroism here. Please be compassionate towards anyone you may who may have to live with this horrible illness

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  • MikeWanDoe1

    Just finished her book... it was one hell of a ride

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  • Initially NO

    People generally don't think like a law student should when they are grieving. Grief takes time and UPR. Giving a person a 'disease' label, when they are grieving, such as schizophrenia and chemically restraining them when they are in no way violent is ridiculous. Medication has never helped me, only made me suffer horribly and destroyed many of my abilities. Saks is entitled to her use of medication, but I hope she agrees that forcing this on others is really, really wrong.

    · 3

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  • actiasSelene

    h t t p : / / darryl-cunningham. blogspot. d e/2010/05/ facts-in-case-of-dr-andrew-wak­efield. h t m l

    i would´t believe someona who had admitted lying.

    ·

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    in reply to vaccinescause autism (Show the comment)
  • Horoperse1

    "Niacin therapy" helps.

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